[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 200 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H6114-H6115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                        PROTECTING OUR ELECTIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
American Confidence in Elections Act, the most transformative election 
integrity bill to be considered in the House in decades.
  Over the summer, the American Confidence in Elections Act, or ACE 
Act, passed out of the Committee on House Administration.
  The ACE Act equips States with election integrity tools, implements 
key reforms in D.C., and protects political speech.
  In examining history, precedent, the Framers' words, debates 
concerning ratification, the Supreme Court, and our Constitution, we 
know the division of power between States and the Federal Government 
provides Congress with a limited oversight of Federal elections.
  With this responsibility, we created the American Confidence in 
Elections Act to help ensure that States are best equipped with the 
tools they need to perform successful election administration.
  As Florida's former secretary of state, I oversaw elections as our 
State's chief election official.

[[Page H6115]]

  I know firsthand just how important efficient and effective election 
administration measures are in ensuring that Americans continue to cast 
their ballots and participate in our democracy.
  As chair of the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections, one 
of my top priorities is to share insight into the policies that lead to 
stronger elections across our Nation.
  This is exactly what the ACE Act will do.
  My colleagues and I have worked in collaboration with secretaries of 
state, local election officials, legislators, and voters across the 
Nation to craft this legislation--in true ``by the people, for the 
people'' fashion.
  Our ACE Act leaves the primary responsibility for administering 
elections to the States while recognizing the important role that 
Congress plays as a resource and a partner.
  Election officials have a saying: Elections are partisan. Election 
administration is not.
  The American Confidence in Elections Act is a strictly commonsense 
measure that protects our voting processes and makes it easier to vote 
and harder to cheat.
  Mr. Speaker, 90 percent of Americans agree that only Americans should 
vote in American elections. A majority of Americans support photo voter 
ID provisions.
  The ACE Act encourages States to adopt strong voter ID laws and 
provides best practices and technology standards to ensure that every 
State in our Nation has the tools needed to conduct secure and 
efficient elections.
  I look forward to bringing this commonsense election integrity 
measure forward to both strengthen and safeguard our elections.
  I thank Chairman Steil for his leadership on this bill, and I look 
forward to seeing it brought to the House floor for final passage.

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